This model transforms e-commerce by affording both urban shoppers and their rural family and friends greater choice, affordability and convenience when shopping for everyday items.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 11 – Mobile commerce firm Copia has launched its e-commerce website in Kenya that will allow customers to purchase and have their goods delivered outside of Nairobi.
The e-commerce platform, copia.co.ke, will facilitate the delivery of products like household goods, electronics, farming tools and construction materials in Central Kenya, parts of Rift Valley and soon to Western Kenya.
At checkout, all a customer needs to do is provide the phone number of the friend or family member upcountry. Copia does the rest – locating the recipient, identifying the nearest delivery centre agent among its thousands of agents and delivering the goods in two to four days.
This model transforms e-commerce by affording both urban shoppers and their rural family and friends greater choice, affordability and convenience when shopping for everyday items.
“Copia’s rapid growth in just five years shows the demand that exists among Kenyans in both rural and urban areas for digitally-powered solutions that make their day-to-day shopping needs easier,” said Tim Steel, CEO, Copia Kenya while speaking during the launch of Copia Online at Tatu City Industrial Park.
Copia’s distribution model is anchored on a network of more than 3,700 agents across Central Kenya and parts of Rift Valley. The agents are typically small shopkeepers who operate as ordering and distribution centres within their rural communities.
To date, Copia has fulfilled more than two million orders and served over 300,000 customers while providing an additional source of income to its agents.
The launch of Copia’s new online shopping service comes just after their move into a new international standard, grade-A logistics and distribution hub at Tatu City Industrial Park.
The 4,000 sqm modern facility helps streamline the fulfilment of customer orders and will help facilitate Copia’s expansion into Western Kenya and other parts of the country.
“E-commerce has the potential to transform Kenya’s economy while helping to uplift the living standards of millions of people. However, this can only happen if they are rolled-out with logistics and distribution solutions tailor-made to work for Kenya,” said Steel.
